[Study on the expression of tenascin-C in keloid and hyperplastic scar].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of tenascin-C (Tn-C) in keloid and hyperplastic scar (HS).

METHODS

Tissue samples were harvested from 10 patients with keloid and 10 with HS (6 - 10 months) and from the skin of 5 adult healthy volunteers. The expression of Tn-C in these samples was determined with immunohistochemistry method.

RESULTS

There was scarce expression of Tn-C in the skin tissue in adult healthy volunteers, and it was only present in the dermal papillae at the dermis epidermis conjunctions and partly in the blood vessels and skin appendages adjacent to the basement membrane. There was enhanced expression of Tn-C in the dermal scar tissue and skin appendages in both keloid and HS, especially in keloid, which exhibited a diffused pattern in the tissue. When compared with that in normal skin, the Tn-C expression in the normal skin adjacent to the keloid was enhanced markedly, but not in the normal skin near HS tissue.

CONCLUSION

There was increased Tn-C expression in keloid and HS (6 - 10 months).